Catch the Spirit


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Volume 6, Number 17

Catch the Spirit

May 1, 2013

Through the Eyes of a Child…… Our first grandchild was born in January, transforming us into smitten grandparents. I had forgotten what it is like to be around babies. They gaze with fascination at the smallest things – a bit of fuzz, a meandering bug, a doorknob, the ceiling fan slowly turning…….. everything is something for the closest scrutiny. Tactile things are endlessly fascinating. Babies gurgle, coo, and kick excitedly. I find myself wondering what is going through our grandson’s head as he gazes placidly at Mimi and Pops, who make fools of themselves hoping for a smile. First and second graders participated in the Palm Sunday processional a few weeks ago and also sang with the choir in the 8:30 traditional service. Many people complimented the music that day, but my personal favorite came from a first grade child. At the end of the service, I had walked over to thank the children for serving as worship leaders, and one little boy looked up at me earnestly and said, “Mrs. Russell, you are kind of old, but you are fun. When can we do this again?” Totally unfiltered……. I have reservations about the “old” part, but am so glad that he had a great experience serving God and wants to do it again. As adults, we could benefit from seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Children are so uncomplicated. Their faith is simple – they believe it, and therefore it is. We adults are so engrossed in the busyness of living and working that we often don’t take the time to really experience and appreciate the world around us. Our lives are shaped by our experiences, and many of us are more about arriving at the destination instead of appreciating the journey there. I am as challenged as anyone about this. We may form preconceived notions about people based on their clothing or skin color. Little children are transparent – they love and trust completely, are amazed by almost everything they see, have wonderful imaginations, aren’t afraid to act silly, cry, or laugh uproariously, and have an amazing capacity to forgive. Viewing our lives from a worldly perspective, most of us think of ourselves as being pretty much self-sufficient. The reality is that, like small children, we are dependent on God for everything that matters – we are not really self-sufficient without Him. Being like small children frees us to love our neighbor as ourselves despite whatever differences there may be. And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4 ESV) P.S. As you are reading this, Central will have hosted the 11th annual handbell festival this past weekend. Our church is blessed to have the facilities that enable us to hold this event, which equips bell choirs through improving technique, learning new music, ringing with confidence, and being better able to serve our Lord God and Savior.

Fenner Russell Director of Traditional Music Worship Ministries

Provide and Protect Seminar In coordination with The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, Central has scheduled a free informational event for Wednesday, May 8th, at 6:00 p.m. that will cover the subjects of developing wills, living wills, guardianship planning, trusts, and pre-planning funerals. The program will be held on the 2nd floor of the Student Ministries Building, and dinner will be provided to those who register to attend. Childcare is also available if needed. Following dinner, there will be a brief presentation and distribution of planning and informational resources by the UMFA vice-president of development, Janet Marshall, estate planning attorney, Denton Woods, with Reece Moore Pendergraft LLP, and Chris Teel, funeral services pre-planner. If you have questions about the event, please feel free to contact Brian Swain at [email protected] or 479-442-1828. If you want to register online, go to www.centraltolife.com/estate. Space is limited for this event so we encourage you to act quickly! Celebration of Ministry The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is pleased to announce that a special retirement event honoring Rev. Tony & Sarah Holifield will be held at the Fayetteville Town Center on Monday, June 3. The event celebrates their 46 years of ministry together and 18 years at Central. A pre-dinner reception hosted by the United Methodist Women will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Center lobby followed by dinner service at 6:00 p.m. and a program at 6:30 p.m. This will be an exciting and memorable evening that you will not want to miss. Seating is limited and tickets need to be purchased in advance. Tickets for the event are $12 and include the reception, dinner, and program. Suggested dress is business casual. Tickets may be obtained through going to the church website at www.centraltolife. com/celebration, coming by the church office in the Wesley Building, or purchasing them on Sunday mornings at the CAC Welcome Center before and after the 9:40 worship service. We want all interested persons to be able to attend, so if your financial situation makes the purchase of tickets a challenge, you may obtain tickets at no charge from the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings, May 12, 19, or 26, or by contacting Kathleen Chenoweth in the church office at 479-442-4237.

Deuteronomy: The Law of Love Join the Truth Seekers Women’s Sunday School class as we study The Law of Love; Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy, a lecture series by Beth Moore. The study includes six 90 minute sessions on DVD and one listening guide. The listening guide offers six supplemental articles by Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick. The DVD study will begin on May 5th, and will continue for 6 weeks. The class meets in Wesley 307. In order to view the entire 90 minute DVD, we will begin class at 9:00 a.m. and start the DVD at 9:15. The cost of the listening guide is $11. For questions, or to sign up, call or email Marilyn Braswell at 283-2726 or [email protected]. You may also register by contacting Susan Meek in the church office at 442-4237. 2013 WorkMatters/Chick-fil-A Leadercast WorkMatters will host their 10th annual Chick-fil-A Leadercast on May 10th in Rogers. This year’s event will feature ten of the most dynamic leaders in culture today, ranging from Condoleezza Rice to Jack Welch to renowned leadership communicator, Andy Stanley and the famous leadership expert John Maxwell. AND, Coach Bret Bielema will be the live local speaker! Tickets are $85, with group ticket discounts available as well. Tickets are available online at www.workmatters.org or by phone at 479-444-1477.

VBS & Day Camp 2013 June 17th - 21st, kids entering Kindergarten to 6th grade will learn that God’s victorious power isn’t a fairy tale…it changes kids forever. With a chance to meet new friends, hear incredible Bible stories, play wild games, eat royally righteous snacks, and rock out to uplifting worship music…kids won’t want to miss this awesome week. VBS for upcoming K-3rd graders, takes place on the Central campus each day from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost is $5 per child and T-shirts are available for $10. Older elementary (upcoming 4th-6th graders) will be held at Mt. Sequoyah Conference Center from 9:15 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Day Camp is $25 per child and $10 for a t-shirt. For more information and to register your child, visit the website at www.centraltolife.com/vbs. Volunteers Needed: Adult volunteers are needed to help at Day Camp at Mt. Sequoyah for June 17th - 21th. Please contact Michele Crippen for more information: [email protected] or 479-283-0945.

Upper Room The Upper Room devotional guide is an excellent way to have a daily quiet time. Pick up your daily devotional guide for May/June in the CAC Foyer, Sanctuary Narthex or Church Office. You may also read the Upper Room online at www.upperroom.org.

Special Thanks The recent special offering for the work of Gideon International’s Bible ministry came to $4,224. Thanks to all who participated. Many will have a Bible for the first time in their lives because of your generosity.

Record of Our Stewardship General Operations Needed each week Received this week

Farewell Reception for District Superintendent A Farewell Reception for the Rev. Mackey Yokem will be held Sunday, May 5th, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fort Smith. Rev. Yokem has been the Northwest District Superintendent for the past six years. You are invited to wish Mackey well as he moves to Little Rock to become the District Director of Mission and Ministry for the Arkansas Conference. A love offering will be presented to Mackey as a token of appreciation. To participate, make out your check to the Northwest District of the UMC and send it to the District Office at 4010 Grand Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72904. Did You Know... On Saturday, Central hosted the 11th annual northwest Arkansas handbell festival, Red, White, and Bells – Let Freedom Ring! 192 ringers attended, representing 19 handbell choirs from three states. Ringers spent the day working with Sondra Tucker, nationally known composer and clinician, and the festival closed with a 4:00 public concert. Through strengthening experienced techniques and learning new techniques, this equipping ministry encourages handbell musicians to ring with confidence and makes them better worship leaders in their home churches. We ring to the glory of God!

4/28/13 $ 68,971 $50,148

Property Maintenance Needed each week Received this week

$ 4,994 $ 4,786

Count Me In! Received this week Life-to-Date

$ 13,121 $ 2,754,638

Uganda Mission Phase V Received this month Uganda Phases I - IV Received Year to Date Phase V Goal

$ 2,076 Funded $ 10,789 $ 46,250

Celebrate Recovery Corner Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered program that helps us deal with life’s “hurts, habits, and hang-ups.” The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to celebrate God’s healing power in our lives through the eight recovery principles found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11) and the Christ-centered 12 steps. THURSDAY NIGHT ADULT SCHEDULE 5:30 p.m. - Snack Supper: Food and Fellowship with other believers 6:30 p.m. - Worship: Worship with lesson or personal testimony 7:30 p.m. - Open Share Groups: Men’s and Women’s issue-specific groups 8:30 p.m. - Afterglow: Coffee and dessert, fellowship and fun! Celebration Station during childcare for ages 5 - 11; Childcare is available from 6:15 - 8:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Rev. Carl Palmer at 442-4237 or [email protected]

Hospitalizations HealthSouth - Pete Loris Previously Hospitalized and Released - Jeff Nemetz Note – Due to privacy laws, our pastors are unable to access hospital admission records as they have in the past. For our pastors to know you are in the hospital, please inform the Church Office or let the hospital admission officials know you are United Methodist.

Sympathy to... Dexter Brown in the death of her sister, Mrs. Robert Trotter, of Harrison. Diane Collins in the death of her mother, Theresa Hawkins, of Fairfield, Maine. Rick Roblee in the death of his sister, Julia Ann Roblee Watson, of Springdale. Here We Grow Again... Emily Alberty Emily joins Central by Profession of Faith. She works at Washington Regional Medical Center.

Carly Liggett Carly transfers her membership from Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Hot Springs, AR. She is currently a student at the University of AR.

Jeremy & Melissa Cole Jeremy transfers his membership from Berryville United Methodist Church, and Melissa transfers from Mountainburg Presbyterian Church. Jeremy is a Business Analyst, and Melissa works as a Brand Manager, both at Tyson Foods, Inc. They have an infant daughter, Bella, who is two months old.

Hunter & Courtney Norton Hunter transfers his membership from First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff, AR, and Courtney transfers from St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock. Hunter is a Commercial Lender at First Security Bank, and Courtney is a Territory Sales Manager for National Dentex Corporation.

Check out our website for all the details on what’s happening with Central Student Ministries! www.centraltolife.com/students Mountain Man Weekend Is This Weekend Mountain Man Weekend is finally upon us! All students and dads who have registered to go should meet in the CAC North Parking Lot this Friday at 6:00 PM (please eat before you come). We’ll head out for a night of camping and then wake up Saturday morning for some floating on the Buffalo River. We should be back at the church by 6:00 Friday night. Make sure you bring your sleeping bag, pillow, towel, extra shoes to wear on the river, swimsuit, Bible, and an extra change of clothes following canoeing. We’ll see you Friday. Senior Dinner This Sunday, May 5th As a reminder for those who have submitted an RSVP, Senior Dinner is this Sunday at 6:00 PM in the CAC Great Hall. Please enter through the South CAC Doors. Questions? Please contact Greg Gibson at [email protected] or 442-1807. Central Student Ministries Summer Missions Registration for our 8th-12th Grade Summer Missions is still going on! This Summer, we’ll be taking two separate Summer Mission Trips: • Ozark Mission Project (June 23rd-29th | Winfield UMC in Little Rock) • SOS114 (July 14th-20th | Orange Mound Neighborhood in Memphis) Cost for each trip is $275 ($100 Deposit | Scholarships Available). More Information/Online Registration available at: www.centraltolife.com/students.

Calendar of Events Sunday, May 5 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:15 9:40 9:40

Jubellation! Rehearsal (Sanctuary) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) Traditional Worship Celebration (Sanctuary) Truth Seekers Class (Wesley 307) Sunday School Contemporary Worship Celebration (Great Hall)

9:45

College and Careers Class (Wesley 206) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) Traditional Worship Celebration (Sanctuary) Contemporary Worship Celebration (Great Hall) SOS Middle School Training (SMB Café) Ozark Bronze (Ed Bldg 109) CCA Board Meeting (SMB 201) Student Ministries Senior Dinner (Great Hall) Ozark Bronze (Ed Bldg 109) The River Prayer & Worship Service (Wesley Chapel) Council on Ministries Meeting (Wesley 310)

10:30 11:00 11:00

12:00 1:30 4:30 5:30 5:30 6:00 7:00

Monday, May 6 9:30 5:00 5:30 5:30 6:00 6:30 6:30

UMW Executive Meeting (Wesley 105) TOPS (Wesley 304) Jubellation! Handbell Ensemble (Ed Bldg 109) Finance Committee Meeting (Wesley 310) Stephen Ministry Peer Supervision Groups (Wesley 102) Boy Scout Troop 102 (CAC Siderooms 1 - 2) Men’s Step Study (Wesley 304)

Tuesday, May 7 6:30 6:30 9:00 9:00 9:30 10:00

Men’s Bible Study - Broyles (3263 N. College) Men’s Bible Study - Conner (Wesley 310) Worship Team Meeting (Wesley 303) Disciple IV - Herriman/Green (Wesley 310) Apprentice of Jesus - Gullett (Wesley 304) Staff Meeting (Wesley 307)

11:30 6:30 6:30 6:30

Community Meals (Great Hall) Disciple I - Farrell (Wesley 304) Disciple II - Pendleton (Wesley 306) The Second Coming - Holifield (Wesley 310)

Wednesday, May 8 10:00 5:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 7:00

Senior Saints Choir (Homestyle Assisted Living, Springdale) Pieceful Hands Quilters (Wesley 200) OMP Middle School Training (CAC Siderooms) Provide and Protect Seminar (SMB 2nd Floor) Disciple I - Palmer (Wesley 310) Disciple I - Horlick (Wesley 103) Disciple II - Jones/Useche (Wesley 307) Disciple III - Tucker (Wesley 306) Disciple IV - Johanson (Wesley 102) Contemporary Worship Team Rehearsal (Great Hall) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Thursday, May 9 10:00 11:30 12:30 12:30 2:30 5:30 5:30 6:00 6:30

Community Meals Bible Study (CAC Siderooms 1 & 2) Community Meals (Great Hall) Men’s Step Study (CAC Sideroom 4) Women’s Step Study (CAC Sideroom 5) Children’s Ministry Prayer Gathering (Wesley 107) String Coalition (Ed Bldg 2nd Floor) Celebrate Recovery Snack Supper (SMB 2nd Floor) Emmaus Fourth Day Gathering (Wesley 104) Celebrate Recovery Worship (SMB Worship Center)

Friday, May 10 8:30

Senior Saints to Branson

May Ushers Jerry Hughey is usher chairman for the 8:30 a.m. traditional services in the Sanctuary for the month of May. Others serving during this service will be Robert Bacon, Susan Chadick, Miller Ford, Jr., Doris Hughey, Keith Lusby, Jim McCord, and Joe Rodman. For the 11:00 a.m. traditional services, Mark Lindsay is usher chairman. Serving along with him are Gordon Allison, Blake Childers, Ron Childers, Charles Duell, Morriss Henry, Read Hudson, Barbara Prichard, Doug Prichard, Sherri Wheeler, and Ann Wood.

Lord’s Day Celebration Sunday, May 5th, 2013

6th Sunday of Easter 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Services - Sanctuary Message

A Trip Down Memory Lane (Sermons I Love to Preach) II. A Bend in the Road!

Rev. J. Anthony Holifield

9:40 & 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Services - Great Hall Message

Sermons I Have to Preach: I Can’t Do It!

Rev. Carl D. Palmer

Holy Communion Served at All Services of Worship To Reach the Pastor on Emergency Call this Weekend, Call 479-799-7473